Epping Forest

Epping Forest's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 120,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Epping Forest increased by 3.1%, from almost 121,000 to 125,000.

The addition of just under 3,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Epping Forest was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Epping Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Epping Forest increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 12% of people in Epping Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Epping Forest

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Epping Forest at a faster rate than across Eastof England.

In Epping Forest, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 31% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Epping Forest fell from 55% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.2% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Epping Forest remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Epping Forest

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 24% said they had no religion. An increase from 15% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Epping Forest.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Epping Forest that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 88,000 in 2001 to about 77,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 8,800 to just under 9,400 (from 7.2% to 7.5%).

Just under 4,000 people (3.1%) said they were Jewish, up from about 3,700 in 2001 (3.2%).

The population without a religion in Epping Forest increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Epping Forest

The percentage of Epping Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.5%, while the percentage of Epping Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Epping Forest

In 2011, 91% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 95% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Epping Forest.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Epping Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 3,400 in 2001 to just over 5,900 in 2011 (from 2.8% to 4.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,200 to just over 2,600 (from 1.0% to 2.1%).

About 2,400 people (0.8%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 990 in 2001 (1.9%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Epping Forest decreased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Epping Forest, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Epping Forest, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.9% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Epping Forest fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 72%.

Private renting in Epping Forest increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Epping Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Epping Forest decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Epping Forest decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 15% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 52%, while the percentage of Epping Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.6%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Epping Forest, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.1% to 9.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 29%, while the percentage of households in Epping Forest which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Epping Forest without children decreased from 60% to 59% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 29%, while the percentage of households in Epping Forest with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11%.

The proportion of households without children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 61%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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